Many parents feel puzzled when their child complains of recurring headaches that do not easily go away. While some believe these pains are only related to fatigue or lack of sleep, the truth is that a significant number of children suffer from what is known as migraine, a neurological disorder that can start before the age of ten and affect the child’s academic and social life.

According to a report published by Health Harvard Medical, understanding the nature of migraines in children requires special awareness, as its symptoms and expressions differ from those commonly seen in adults. It is not a rare disease, but it requires awareness and careful care. Early diagnosis, family cooperation with doctors, and the child’s commitment to healthy habits are all factors that help reduce suffering and enable the child to continue life normally.

Migraine in children may appear as a pressing or throbbing pain on both sides of the head, accompanied by nausea, refusal to eat, and noticeable sensitivity to light or sounds. Some children prefer to lie down in darkness and quiet until the pain subsides. Another important indicator is that the child may seem very tired or moody hours before the attack begins.

The exact cause is still not fully understood, but modern theories suggest that the brain in these children overreacts to environmental or physical triggers. These triggers may be as simple as skipping a meal, school stress, or even certain foods. The genetic factor increases the likelihood, as having a parent affected makes the child more susceptible.

One of the most important things parents can do is monitor the situations preceding the headache and record them in a notebook. This simple method helps identify personal triggers and avoid them as much as possible. Additionally, maintaining healthy habits—such as early sleep, regular meals, drinking water, and exercising—reduces the severity and frequency of attacks.

When an attack starts, the best thing to do is to rest the child in a quiet, dark place, applying cold compresses. If this is not enough, a doctor may allow the use of safe painkillers in specific doses. However, caution is needed to avoid excessive use so that the headache does not become a chronic pattern caused by the medications themselves.

In cases that do not respond to simple measures, the doctor may prescribe special medications such as “triptans,” which have proven effective in children starting from six years old. Some doctors also resort to preventive treatment plans when attacks recur in a way that hinders the child’s studies or deprives them of a normal life.

There are warning signs that must be taken seriously, such as headaches accompanied by repeated vomiting, neck stiffness, or difficulty speaking and moving. These symptoms may indicate a deeper health problem requiring urgent emergency review.